India offers agri equipment, technology to Myanmar

Looking to boost bilateral ties, India has offered to assist Myanmar in the area of public healthcare and to provide it with necessary support in boosting the country's agricultural production.
Speaking at the India Myanmar Business Conclave here, India's Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman acknowledged Myanmar's achievement in organic and sustainable agriculture.
India can cooperate in boosting productivity by providing technology and agri equipment, she said at the meet which was attended by over 40 top CEOs from the neighbouring country.
Pharmaceutical sector is an area where India can engage actively specially for public healthcare, she said. The Minister also identified textiles, IT and automobile as the industries where the two countries can work together.

Sitharaman held bilateral meetings with Myanmar's Minister for Construction Win Khaing, Minister for Commerce Than Myint, and Minister for Industry Khin Maung Cho, an official statement said.
Issues related to long-term engagement on procurement of pulses, easy access to Indian pharma products and pharma companies, Indian investment in infrastructure, capacity enhancement and upgrading border infrastructure, were also discussed between the two sides.

Myanmar sought cooperation in skill development, capacity building and training for both public and private sector, while India assured of its support in various priority areas.
She conveyed India's commitment to contribute to Myanmar's development including road and connectivity projects, border projects such as border haats and Integrated Check Posts (ICPs).

Sitharaman also invited Myanmar to hold roadshows in key cities of India to showcase opportunities for Indian businesses.
She is leading a a 25-member business delegation to Myanmar with an aim to boost trade and economic ties between the two nations.
An India Myanmar Business Conclave is being hosted by India here as part of its 'Act East' policy.
This is the first visit of any Minister from India after the new government in Myanmar.
Bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 2 billion in 2014-15.
Addressing a Government-Business Round table, Sitharaman said India has opened 96.4 per cent of tariff lines at zero duty for Myanmar under its Duty Free Tariff Preference scheme besides ASEAN India free trade agreement (FTA).

"The transition from barter trade to normal trade with effect from December 1, 2015 was a step forward to boost trade. Similarly, a liberal access was available for services including a visa fee waiver for Myanmar applicants applying for Indian Business and Employment visas," the Minister said.